Method of protecting dental work.



h A. R. DE PASS. METHOD OF PROTECTING DENTAL WORK.

APPLIGATION FILED JUNE 24,,1911.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

COLUMBIA PLANduRAPl-l c0" WASHINGTON. D. c;

ADDISON 3. DE PASS, COLUMBIA, SOUTH CAROLINA.

METHOD OF PROTECTING DENTAL WORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed June 24, 1911.

Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

Serial No. 635,233.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ADDISON R. DE PASS, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Columbia, in the county of Richland, State of South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Protecting Dental Work, of which the following is a specification.

This invention has for its object the protection of dental work in the mouth of a patient.

It is a well known fact that fillings and other dental work should be protected from moisture in the mouth of the patient for a certain period of time after the work is done and various means have been used by dentists for this purpose. The patient has been required to keep his mouth open and cotton has been stuffed around the teeth to protect them from saliva, and in addition a rubber sheet or dam is often kept around the tooth. In spite. of these precautions, however, it is not always possible to prevent the access of moisture to the work.

My present 1 invention is designed to effectively and absolutely protect the work from moisture, and in addition to this to avoid in a great measure the discomfort to the patient incident to the method and means heretofore used and to reduce to a minimum the exertion on the part of the dentist in protecting the work.

The novel features of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

. I have illustrated a series of forms or molds for use in carrying out my invention, and these are made the subject of the claims in my divisional application No. 649,334: filed September 1 1, 1911.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a form or mold adapted to fit over the upper front row of teeth; Fig. 2 shows a similar form adapted to fit over thewlower,

front row of teeth; Fig. 3 is a similar view of a form adapted to fit over the upper right row' of teeth; Fig. 4 shows a similar. but shorter'form adapted to fit over a section of the upper left row of teeth; Fig. 5 shows a similar form adapted for use onthe lower right row of teeth; and Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view showing the details of construction which may be used in making the mold,

held in aform so shaped as to properly and conveniently fit over the section of the teeth in which the work has been done. The form itself does not come in contact with the teeth, but extends along both sides of the teeth up to a point beyond the exposed portions so that the teeth may sink down in the form and in the plastic material contained in the form until that plastic material closely fits around the teeth and up to the gums of the patient. Plaster of Paris is a suitable material for use as the plastic material in which the teeth are embedded, but it will be understood that any other similar orsuitable material may be used. When I make use of plaster of Paris I preferably place suificient material in the form to fill it and then spread a thinsheet of elastic rubber over the plaster of Paris and press the form up firmly against the teeth until the teeth are embedded in the plaster of Paris with the layer of rubber between the teeth and the plaster of Paris, thus effectively protecting the teeth even from the moisture contained in the plastic material. It will, of course, be understood that the plaster of Paris is moistened and in plastic form when the teeth are embedded, but that it will quickly set forming a rigid cast around the teeth effectively protecting them and keeping out moisture. The forms are so shaped that they will properly fit the various parts of the mouth with as little inconvenience; to the patient as possible. Then it is desired to remove the cast from the teeth the mold may be first withdrawn from the'cast and the plaster of Paris is then broken up and removed in sections. It will be understoodhoweverthat there is sufficient give in the material to permit the mold to be withdrawnifrom the teeth while 7 the plaster of Paris form is in it.

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the mold for the upper'front row of teeth has a wall lshaped to fitaround the outside of the teeth and to extend upwardly beyond the exposed portions and there is also an inner wall 2 fitting around the inside of the row ofteeth. There is between these two walls a groove or recess which is .to be filled with the plaster of Paris and covered with a thin coating of water-proof material, such as rubber.. The mold for the lower front row of teeth is fo-rmed with the front wall 3 and the rear wall 4 leaving a groove for the teeth, between them and as shown in this figure the upright walls are preferably undercut along their inner upper edges as shown at 5 so that the upper edges make a slightly contracted outlet for the material contained in the form serving to securely and firmly hold it in position. I preferably make use of this undercut arrangement on each of the forms since it not only holds them in position, but makes the plastic material more firmly press against the teeth when they sink into it up around the roots so as to make a close watertight joint. i

In Fig. 3 I have shown a form -of mold embodying the side walls 6 and 7 and a rear end wall 8 of such shape that it can be fitted over the entire row of teeth on the upper right hand side. It has on its forward end on one side an outlet or opening 9 for the passage of the front teeth. It will be understood that a similar mold with the parts reversed may be used for the upper left hand row of teeth.

In Fig. 4 I have shown a shorter form for the upper left hand row of teeth having the inner wall 10 and the outer wall ll'so curved and shaped as to properly fit over a section of the teeth, but in this instance the form is made shorter than that indicated in Fig. 3 so that it will cover only a portion of the teeth on one side, and it will consequently not be so much in the way of the patient as will the long form covering the entire row. In this particular form the ends are open except that there are upwardly bent or extending portions 12 and 13.

serving as ribs or dams to assist inholding the material in the form while the teeth are being embedded. It will be understood that the form for the upper right side will be similarly constructed so as to fit on that side.

The form shown in Fig. 5 has an outer side wall 14: and an inner side wall 15 and like that shown .in Fig. 4 is provided with open ends with the upward projections 16,

l 17 to hold the material in place.

Each of the forms used in carrying out my invention may be made of any suitable material such as rubber or metal. Whenmade of rubber or similar material the side walls may have sufficient resiliency to permit the form to be withdrawn from the hardened plaster of Paris notwithstanding the fact that the form may have its .side walls forming a proper mold, but when the bolts are released the sections maybe separated and removed from the material contained in the form. As shown in Fig. 6 the side walls are inclined slightly toward each other at the top and have the undercut portions 5 so as to firmly hold the plaster of Paris, wax or other materials 21 and to make that material fit closely around the teeth 22 when they are embedded in it. The thin sheet of rubber 23 is placed across the top of the plastic material and when theteeth are embedded in that material the rubber sheet will be pressed closely around the teeth and up around the gums so as to form a tight'fit, effectively keeping out any moisture. The rubber is not only water-proof, but is elastic and consequently will make a perfectly water-tight joint. As shown in this figure, 24. represents a filling which is being protected by the plastic material and rubber coating.

I prefer to use plaster of Paris in carrying out my invention, but it will be understood that other materials may be used and this is true also of the waterproof lining or coating over the tooth when it is embedded in the. plastic material which is preferably of rubber, although my invention is not limited to the use of that material.

- Having thus described my invention what I- claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. The method of protecting dental work from saliva and-moisture consisting in applying to the tooth on which the work has been done a thin flexible water-proof covering and embedding said tooth and covering in a plastic mold closely fitting around said tooth to keep out moisture.

2. The method of protecting dental work from saliva and moisture consisting in covering a mass of plastic material with a thin sheet'of elastic rubber and pressing said material covered with said rubber around the tooth upon which the work has been done forming a closely fitting water-proof protecting covering for said tooth.

3. The method of protecting dental work from saliva and moisture consisting in covering a mass of wet plaster of Paris with a thin sheet of elastic rubber and pressing said plaster of Paris against said sheet around the tooth operated on forming a against said teeth until they are embedded 10 closely fitting Water-proof protecting coverin said material. ing for said tooth. In testimony whereof I aifix my signature 4. The method of protecting dental Work in presenoe of two Witnesses.

' from saliva and moisture conslsting in fill- ADDISON R DE PASS ing with plastic material an open top form shaped to fit the row of teeth Worked upon, Witnesses covering said material With a thin Water- PORTER A. MoMAsTER, proof elastic sheet, pressing said form 'D. C. RAY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

